CONSTITUTION OF BOATING AND DIVING SOCIETY
NAME
1 This Society shall be known as the “Boating and Diving Society”
hereinafter referred to as the Society”.
PLACE
OF BUSINESS
2 Its
place of business shall be at “60 Albert Street, Albert Complex, #05-01
Singapore
189969” or such other address as may subsequently be decided upon
by the
Committee and approved by the Registrar of Societies. The Society shall
carry out
its activities only in places and premises which have the prior written
approval
from the relevant authorities, where necessary.
OBJECTS
3.1 Its objects are:
a)
To promote and encourage diving and other sea sports.
b)
To promote social and recreational activities for the benefit of the
members.
c)
To organize and endorse competitions, lectures, film shows,
underwater photography and video,
social functions on the scientific
knowledge of the sea and the conservation of marine environment.
d)
To encourage the development of skills in diving and to improve safety
on water.
e)
To enter into reciprocal arrangements with any other yacht club or sea
sports entity so that members may enjoy the privileges,
amenities and
facilities of such clubs and
entities.
3.2 In furtherance of the above objects, the
Society may do all such other
things
as in the opinion of the Committee are incidental or conducive to the
attainment
of any of the above objects or any objects of a like or similar nature.
3.3 The above may be carried out subject to the
approval of the relevant
authorities,
where necessary.
MEMBERSHIP
QUALIFICATION AND RIGHTS
Ordinary
Membership
4.1 Ordinary membership is open to any natural
person. Ordinary Members
who are
21 years of age and above shall have the right to attend General
Meetings
and to hold office. Such Ordinary Members are entitled to one vote
each at
General Meetings. Ordinary Members shall have the power to propose
and
second members for election at the Annual General Meeting. Ordinary
Membership
is transferable subject to terms and conditions and on payment of
such
transfer or conversion fee as may be determined by the Committee.
Corporate
Membership
4.2 Corporate Membership is open to any
corporation. Each Corporate
Member
has the right to nominate two individuals to attend General Meetings.
Each
Corporate Member is entitled to one vote at General Meetings. Corporate
Members
may nominate a third person either as an additional person or to
substitute
the other two nominees subject to an additional or substitution fee to be
determined
by the Committee.
Diving
Membership
4.3 Diving Membership is open to any natural
person who is healthy, interested
in
diving and willing to pay the Diving Member entrance fee. Diving Members are
not
entitled to attend General Meetings and to hold office. Diving Members do not
have
the right to propose and second members for election at the Annual General
Meeting.
Diving Members can convert to become Ordinary Members subject to
terms
and conditions and on payment of conversion fees as determined by the
Committee.
Boating
Membership
4.4 Boating Membership is open to any natural person who is
healthy and
willing to pay the Boating Member entrance fee. Boating Members
are not
entitled to attend General Meetings and to hold office. Boating
Members do not
have the right to propose and second members for election at the
Annual General
Meeting. Boating Members are not entitled to participate diving
trips and
expeditions that may be organised from time to time by the Club.
Student
Membership
4.5
Student Membership is open to students. Student Members are not
entitled
to attend General Meetings and to hold office. Student Members do not
have
the right to propose and second members for election at the Annual General
Meeting.
APPLICATION
FOR MEMBERSHIP
5.1 A
person wishing to join the Society should submit his particulars to the
Secretary
on a prescribed form.
5.2 A
new member must be proposed and seconded by existing members. His
name
will then be posted on the notice board in the Society’s premises for one
week at
the end of which time the Committee will decide on membership, taking
into
consideration any objection raised.
5.3 A
copy of the Constitution shall be furnished to every approved member
upon
payment of the entrance fee.
ENTRANCE
FEES, SUBSCRIPTIONS AND OTHER DUES
6.1 The
entrance fees and subscriptions shall be determined by the General
Meeting
on recommendation of the Committee from time to time.
6.2 For
retiree memberships, the entrance fee is waived and the monthly
subscription
is reduced by half.
6.3
Monthly subscriptions are payable in advance within the first week of the
month.
If a member falls into arrears with his subscriptions or dues, he shall be
informed
immediately by the Treasurer. If he fails to settle his arrears within 4
weeks
of their becoming due, the President may order that his name be posted
on the
Society’s notice board and that he be denied the privileges of membership
until
he settles his account. If he falls into arrears for more than 3 months, he
will
automatically
cease to be a member and the Committee may take legal action
against
him provided that they are satisfied that he has received due notice of his
debts.
6.4 Any
additional fund required for special purposes may only be raised from
members
with the consent of the General Meeting of the members.
SUPREME
AUTHORITY AND GENERAL MEETINGS
7.1 The
supreme authority of the Society is vested in a General Meeting of the
members
presided over by the President.
7.2 An
Annual General Meeting shall be held in April.
7.3 At
other times, an Extraordinary General Meeting must be called by the
President
on the request in writing of not less than 25% of the total voting
membership
or 30 voting members, whichever is the lesser, and may be called at
anytime
by order of the Committee. The notice in writing shall be given to the
Secretary
setting forth the business that is to be transacted. The Extraordinary
General
Meeting shall be convened within two months from receiving this request
to
convene the Extraordinary General Meeting.
7.4 If
the Committee does not within two months after the date of the receipt of
the
written request proceed to convene an Extraordinary General Meeting, the
members
who requested for the Extraordinary General Meeting shall convene the
Extraordinary
General Meeting by giving ten days’ notice to voting members
setting
forth the business to be transacted and simultaneously posting the agenda
on the
Society’s notice board.
7.5 At
least two week
and at
least ten days’ notice of an Extraordinary General Meeting. Notice of
meeting
stating the date, time and place of meeting shall be sent by the Secretary
to all
voting members. The particulars of the agenda shall be posted on the
Society’s notice board four days in advance of the meeting.
7.6 Unless otherwise stated in this
Constitution, voting by proxy is allowed at
all
General Meetings.
7.7 The following points will be considered at
the Annual General Meeting:
a) The previous financial
year’s accounts and annual report of the
Committee.
b)
Where applicable, the election of office-bearers and Honorary
Auditors for the following term.
7.8 Any member who wishes to place an item on
the agenda of a General
Meeting
may do so provided he gives notice to the Secretary one week before the
meeting
is due to be held.
7.9 At least 25% of the total voting membership
or 30 voting members,
whichever
is the lesser, present at a General Meeting shall form a quorum.
Proxies
shall not be constituted as part of the quorum.
7.10 In
the event of there being no quorum at the commencement of a General
Meeting,
the meeting shall be adjourned for half an hour and should the number
then
present be insufficient to form a quorum, those present shall be considered a
quorum,
but they shall have no power to amend any of the existing Constitution.
MANAGEMENT
AND COMMITTEE
8.1 The administration of the Society shall be
entrusted to a Committee
consisting
of the following to be elected at alternate Annual General Meeting:
A President
A Vice-President
A Secretary
An Assistant Secretary
A Treasurer
An Assistant Treasurer
3 Ordinary Committee Members
8.2
Names for the above offices shall be proposed and seconded at the
Annual General
Meeting and election will follow on a simple majority vote of the
members.
All office-bearers, except the Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer may
be
re-elected to the same or related post for a consecutive term of office. The
term of
office of the Committee is two years.
8.3
Election will be either by show of hands or, subject to the agreement of the
majority
of the voting members present, by a secret ballot. In the event of a tie,
the
Chairman of the meeting shall have a casting vote.
8.4 A
Committee Meeting shall be held at least once every 3 months after
giving
seven days’ notice to Committee Members. The President may call a
Committee
Meeting at any time by giving five days’ notice. At least ˝ of the
Committee
Members must be present for its proceedings to be valid.
8.5 Any
member of the Committee absenting himself from three meetings
consecutively
without satisfactory explanations shall be deemed to have
withdrawn
from the Committee and a successor may be co-opted by the
Committee
to serve until the next Annual General Meeting. Any changes in the
Committee
shall be notified to the Registrar of Societies within two weeks of the
change.
8.6 The
duty of the Committee is to organise and supervise the day to day
activities
of the Society. The Committee may not act contrary to the expressed
wishes
of the General Meeting without prior reference to it and always remains
subordinate
to the General Meetings.
8.7 The
Committee has power to authorise the expenditure of a sum not
exceeding
$20,000 per month from the Society’s funds for the Society’s purposes.
DUTIES
OF OFFICE-BEARERS
9.1 The
President shall chair all General and Committee meetings. He shall
also
represent the Society in its dealings with outside persons.
9.2 The
Vice-President shall assist the President and deputise for him in his
absence.
9.3 The
Secretary shall keep all records, except financial, of the Society and
shall
be responsible for their correctness. He will keep minutes of all General and
Committee
meetings. He shall maintain an up-to-date Register of Members at all
times.
9.4 The
Assistant Secretary shall assist the Secretary and deputise for him in
his
absence.
9.5 The
Treasurer shall keep all funds and collect and disburse all moneys on
behalf
of the Society and shall keep an account of all money transactions and
shall
be responsible for their correctness. He is authorised to expend up to
$10,000!-
per month for petty expenses on behalf of the Society. He will not keep
more
than $5,000!- in the form of cash and money in excess of this will be
deposited
in a bank to be named by the Committee. Cheques, etc. for
withdrawals
from the bank will be signed by the Treasurer and either the
President
or the Vice-President or the Secretary.
9.6 The
Assistant Treasurer shall assist the Treasurer and deputise for him in
his
absence.
9.7
Ordinary Committee Members shall assist in the general administration of
the
Society and perform duties assigned by the Committee from time to time.
AUDIT AND FINANCIAL YEAR
10.1
Two voting members, not being members of the Committee, shall be
elected
as Honorary Auditors at alternate Annual General Meeting and will hold
office
for a term of two years only and shall not be re-elected for a consecutive
term.
10.2
They:
a) Will be required to audit each year’s
accounts and present a report
upon them to the Annual General
Meeting.
b) May be required by the President to
audit the Society’s accounts for
any period within their tenure of
office at any date and make a report
to the Committee.
10.3
The financial year shall be from 1St February to 31st January.
TRUSTEES
11.1 If
the Society at any time acquires any immovable property, such property
be
vested in trustees subject to a declaration of trust.
11.2
The trustees of the Society shall:
a) Not be more than four and not less
than two in number.
b) Be elected by a General Meeting of
members.
c) Not effect any sale or mortgage of
property without the prior
approval of the General Meeting of
members.
11.3
The office of the trustee shall be vacated:
a) If the trustee dies or becomes a
lunatic or of unsound mind.
b) If he is absent from the Republic of
Singapore for a period of more
than one year.
c) If he is guilty of misconduct of such
a kind as to render it
undesirable that he continues as a
trustee.
d) If he submits notice of resignation
from his trusteeship.
11.4
Notice of any proposal to remove a trustee from his trusteeship or to
appoint
a new trustee to fill a vacancy must be given by posting it on the notice
board
in the Society’s premises at least two weeks before the General Meeting at
which
the proposal is to be discussed. The result of such General Meeting shall
then be
notified to the Registrar of Societies.
11.5
The address of each immovable properties, name of each trustee and any
subsequent
change must be notified to the Registrar of Societies.
VIS
12.1 Visitors
and guests may be admitted into the premises of the Society but
they
shall not be admitted to the privileges of the Society nor shall they be
admitted
into the premises more than six times in a calendar year. These visits
are to
be confined to not more than once in fourteen days.
12.2 A
Visitors’ Book shall be kept, in which shall be entered the names of all
visitors
and guests, together with the names and signatures of the members
nominating
them and the dates of their visits. No person shall be a visitor or
guest
till his name has been entered in this book.
PROHIBITIONS
13.1
Gambling of any kind, excluding the promotion or conduct of a private
lottery
which has been permitted under the Private Lotteries Act Cap 250, is
forbidden
on the Society’s premises. The introduction of materials for gambling or
drug
taking, the smoking of cigarette and cigar and of bad characters into the
premises
is prohibited.
13.2
The funds of the Society shall not be used to pay the fines of members
who
have been convicted in a court of law.
13.3
The Society shall not engage in any trade union activity as defined in any
written
law relating to trade unions for the time being in force in Singapore.
13.4 The Society shall not attempt to interfere with trade or make
directly or indirectly any recommendation to, any arrangement with its members which has the purpose or is likely to have the effect of fixing or controlling
the price or any discount ,allowance or rebate relating to any goods or service
which adversely affect consumer interests
13.5 The society shall not indulge in any political activity or allow
its funds and premises to be used for political purposes.
13.6 The society shall not hold any lottery, whether confined to
its members or not, in the name of the Society or its office-bearers, Committee
or members unless with the prior approval of the relevant authorities.
13.7 The society not raise funds from the public for whatever
purposes without the prior approval in writing of the head, licensing division,
Singapore Police Force and other relevant authority.
AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION
14 No alteration or addition/deletion to this Constitution shall be made except at a General Meeting and with the consent of two thirds of the voting members present at the General Meeting, and they shall not come into force without the prior sanction of the Registrar of Societies.
INTERPRETATION
15 In the event of any Question or matter pertaining to day-to-day
administration which is not expressly provided for in the constitution, the
Committee shell have power to use their own discretion. The decision of the
Committee shall be final unless it is reversed at a General Meeting of member.
DISPUTES
16 In the event of any dispute ARISING AMONGST MEMBERS, THEY
SHALL ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE THE MATTER AT AN extraordinary General Meeting in
accordance with this constitution. Should the members fail to resolve the
matter, they may bring the matter to a court of law for settlement.
DISSOLUTION
17.1 The society shall not be dissolved, except with the consent
of not less than 3/5 of the total voting membership of the Society for the time
being resident in Singapore expressed, either in person or by proxy, at a
General Meeting convened for the purpose.
17.2 In the event of the Society being dissolved as provided
above, all debts and the liabilities legally incurred on behalf of the society
shell be fully discharged, and the remaining funds will be disposed of in such
manner as the General Meeting of the members may determine or donated to an
approved charity or charities in Singapore.
17.3 A Certificate of Dissolution shall be given within seven days of the dissolution to the Register of Societies.
LATEST AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION
Amendment as of 05 September 2002
7.5
At least two week
and
at least ten days’ notice of an Extraordinary General Meeting. Notice of
meeting stating the date, time and place of meeting shall be posted on the
Society's website or on the notice board in the Society's premises. The
particulars of the agenda shall be posted on the Society's website or
on the Society’s notice board four days in advance of the meeting.
Amendment as of 31 January 2002
9.5
The Treasurer shall keep all funds and collect and disburse all moneys on
behalf
of the Society and shall keep an account of all money transactions and
shall
be responsible for their correctness. He is authorised to expend up to
$10,000/-
per month for petty expenses on behalf of the Society. He will not keep
more
than $5,000/- in the form of cash and money in excess of this will be
deposited
in a bank to be named by the Committee. Cheques, etc. for
withdrawals
from the bank will be signed by either the Treasurer or the
President or the Vice-President or the Secretary.